Recombinant human alpha-fetoprotein as an immunosuppressive agent

ABSTRACT

Disclosed are methods of inhibiting autoreactive immune cell proliferation in a mammal, involving administering to the mammal a therapeutically effective amount of recombinant human alpha-fetoprotein or an immune cell anti-proliferative fragment or analog thereof.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a divisional of U.S. Ser. No. 10/838,476, filed on May 4, 2004, allowed, which is a continuation of U.S. Ser. No. 09/940,308, filed on Aug. 27, 2001, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,774,108, which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. Ser. No. 09/186,723, filed on Nov. 5, 1998, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,288,034, which is a continuation of U.S. Ser. No. 08/377,309, filed Jan. 24, 1995, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,965,528, each of which is hereby incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to methods for treating autoimmune diseases.

Responses of the immune system initiate the destruction and elimination of invading organisms and toxic molecules produced by them. Because these immune reactions are destructive, it is essential that they be made in response only to molecules that are foreign to the host and not to those of the host itself. The ability to distinguish foreign molecules from self molecules is a fundamental feature of the immune system. Occasionally the immune system fails to make this distinction and reacts destructively against the host's own molecules; such autoimmune diseases can be fatal. Thus, tolerance to self antigens breaks down, causing the components of the immune system such as T or B cells (or both) to react against their own tissue antigens. Multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis, myasthenia gravis, insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus, and systemic lupus erythematosus are a few examples of such autoimmune diseases.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

I have discovered that recombinant human alpha-fetoprotein made in a prokaryote (e.g., E. coli or baculovirus) or eukaryote is useful for inhibiting autoreactive immune cells derived from a mammal. Accordingly, the invention features a method of inhibiting transplant rejection in a mammal (e.g., a human patient), involving administering to the mammal a therapeutically effective amount of recombinant human alpha-fetoprotein or an immune cell anti-proliferative fragment or analog thereof. Preferably, such immune cells include T cells or B cells; and the recombinant human alpha-fetoprotein used in such methods is produced in a prokaryotic cell (e.g., E. coli or baculovirus) or eukaryotic (e.g., transgenic animal) and is glycosylated or unglycosylated.

In another aspect, the invention features a method of inhibiting graft-versus-host disease in a mammal (e.g., a human patient), involving administering to the mammal a therapeutically effective amount of recombinant human alpha-fetoprotein or an immune cell anti-proliferative fragment or analog thereof. Preferably, the recombinant human alpha-fetoprotein used in such methods is produced in a prokaryotic cell (e.g., E. coli or baculovirus) or eukaryotic (e.g., transgenic animal) and is glycosylated or unglycosylated.

In yet another aspect, the invention features a method of mitigating the side effects in a mammal (e.g. a human patient) undergoing chemotherapy, involving administering to the mammal a therapeutically effective amount of recombinant human alpha-fetoprotein or an immune cell anti-proliferative fragment or analog thereof. Preferably, the recombinant human alpha-fetoprotein used in such methods is produced in a prokaryotic cell (e.g., E. coli or baculovirus) or eukaryotic (e.g., transgenic animal) and is glycosylated or unglycosylated.

In an additional aspect, the invention features a method of mitigating the side effects in a mammal (e.g., a human patient) undergoing irradiation therapy, involving administering to the mammal a therapeutically effective amount of recombinant human alpha-fetoprotein or an immune cell anti-proliferative fragment or analog thereof. Preferably, the recombinant human alpha-fetoprotein used in such methods is produced in a prokaryotic cell (e.g., E. coli or baculovirus) or eukaryote (e.g., transgenic animal) and is glycosylated or unglycosylated. In other preferred embodiments, such methods further involve administering to the mammal an immunosuppressive agent in an effective dose that is lower than the standard dose when the immunosuppressive agent is used by itself. Preferably, such an immunosuppressive agent is cyclosporine; is a steroid; is azathioprine; is FK-506; or is 15-deoxyspergualin. In yet another preferred embodiment, such a method involves administering to the mammal a tolerizing agent. Preferably, the recombinant human alpha-fetoprotein used in such methods is produced in a prokaryotic cell (e.g., E. coli or baculovirus) or eukaryote (e.g., transgenic animal) and is glycosylated or unglycosylated.

By “immune cell anti-proliferative” is meant capable of inhibiting the growth of an undesirable immune cell (e.g., an autoreactive T cell as measured using the assays described herein).

By “therapeutically effective amount” is meant a dose of unglycosylated recombinant human alpha-fetoprotein (or a fragment or analog thereof) capable of inhibiting autoreactive immune cell proliferation.

By “recombinant human alpha-fetoprotein” is meant a polypeptide having substantially the same amino acid sequence as the protein encoded by the human alpha-fetoprotein gene as described by Morinaga et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci., USA 80: 4604 (1983). The method of producing recombinant human alpha-fetoprotein in a prokaryotic cell is described in U.S. Ser. No. 08/133,773 issuing as U.S. Pat. No. 5,384,250.

According to the invention, administration of recombinant human alpha-fetoprotein (“rHuAFP”) (or a fragment or analog thereof) can be an effective means of preventing or treating or ameliorating autoimmune diseases in a mammal. To illustrate this, I have shown that recombinant HuAFP produced in a prokaryotic expression system is effective in suppressing T cell proliferation in response to self antigens, despite the fact that such rHuAFP is not modified in the same fashion as naturally occurring HuAFP. The use of natural HuAFP has heretofore been limited by its unavailability; natural HuAFP is obtained by laborious purification from limited supplies of umbilical cords and umbilical cord serum. Because biologically rHuAFP can now be prepared in large quantities using the techniques of recombinant DNA, the use of rHuAFP for treating autoimmune diseases is now possible. The use of rHuAFP is especially advantageous since there are no known adverse side effects related to human alpha-fetoprotein and it is believed that relatively high doses can be safely administered.

Other features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following detailed description, and from the claims.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The drawings will first be described.

DRAWINGS

FIG. 1A is an autoradiography showing the purity of recombinant AFP produced in E. coli. (ErAFP) on a 10% non-denaturing alkaline polyacrylamide gel. Mouse amniotic fluid proteins (transferrin, AFP and albumin) are shown in lane 1, natural human AFP (HuAFP) and ErAFP are shown in lane 2 and lane 3, respectively.

FIG. 1B is an autoradiography showing the purity of ErAFP produced in E. coli on a 10% sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel. Molecular weight markers are shown in lane 1, HuAFP and ErAFP are shown in lane 2 and lane 3, respectively.

FIG. 1C is series of FPLC chromatograms showing the elution profile of HuAFP and ErAFP from a MonoQ anion exchange column. The superimposed chromatograms identify HuAFP (Chromatogram 1) and ErAFP (Chromatogram 2).

FIG. 1D is a series of HPLC chromatograms showing the elution profile of HuAFP and ErAFP obtained by passing 50 μg of HuAFP and ErAFP through a reverse phase Delta Pak C18 column (Waters) and eluting with a gradient of 0-100% acetonitrile in 0.1% TFA. The superimposed chromatograms identify HuAFP (Chromatogram 1) and ErAFP (Chromatogram 2).

FIG. 2A is an autoradiograph showing the purity of recombinant AFP produced in baculovirus (BrAFP) on a 10% non-denaturing alkaline polyacrylamide gel. Protein samples are HuAFP (lane 2), BrAFP (lane 3), and ErAFP (lane 4). Molecular weight markers and mouse amniotic fluid are shown in lane 1.

FIG. 2B is an autoradiograph showing the purity of BrAFP on 10% SDS-acrylamide gel. Protein samples are HuAFP (lane 2), BrAFP (lane 3), and ErAFP (lane 4). Molecular weight markers and mouse amniotic fluid are shown in lane 1.

FIG. 2C is a series of FPLC chromatograms showing the elution profile of HuAFP, BrAFP, and ErAFP from a MonoQ anion exchange column. The superimposed chromatograms identify HuAFP (Chromatogram 1), BrAFP (Chromatogram 2), and ErAFP (Chromatogram 3).

FIG. 2D is a series of HPLC chromatograms showing the elution profile of HuAFP, BrAFP, and ErAFP obtained by passing 50 μg of HuAFP, BrAFP, and ErAFP through a reverse phase Delta Pak C18 column (Waters) and eluting with a gradient of 0-100% acetonitrile in 0.1% TFA. The superimposed chromatograms identify natural HuAFP (Chromatogram 1), BrAFP (Chromatogram 2), and ErAFP (Chromatogram 3).

FIG. 3A is a graph showing the inhibitory effect of the ErAFP on the kinetics of T cell activation. The proliferative responses were measured over a 4 day time course of cells cultured in the absence (V) and in the presence of 100 μg/ml (▾) ErAFP. () denotes the background proliferation of the responder cell population cultured separately. ErAFP-mediated suppression on the AMLR over the time course was significant (p<0.01).

FIG. 3B is a graph showing the dose-response relationship of ErAFP on autoproliferating T cells. The inhibition of autoproliferating T cells was determined at 144 hours with amounts of ErAFP ranging from 6-100 μg/ml (▾). (∇) denotes the control response of the reaction in the absence of protein. Inhibition of autoreactive T cells by ErAFP in the range of 12.5-100 μg/ml is significant (p<0.005).

FIG. 4 is a bar graph showing that monoclonal anti-HuAFP antibodies (aAFP) block immunosuppression of the autologous mixed lymphocyte reactions (AMLR) by ErAFP (E. coli AFP). Immunosuppression by ErAFP was significant (p<0.002) and blocking of ErAFP-mediated immunosuppression by monoclonal anti-HuAFP antibodies was also significant (p<0.03).

FIG. 5 is a chart showing that monoclonal antibodies that recognize HuAFP block immunosuppression of AMLR by BrAFP and ErAFP.

FIG. 6 is a chart showing the immunosuppressive effects of BrAFP, ErAFP, and the AFP fragment of amino acids 1-22 (Δ(1-266)) on mitogen stimulated peripheral blood lymphocytes.

FIG. 7A is a bar graph showing the immunosuppressive effect of human derived full-length HuAFP (HuAFP) versus human domain III AFP (HuDomIII) in AMLR. The gel insert confirms the size of the various recombinant AFP used in the AMLR assays: molecular weight markers (MW), 1 μg HuAFP (lane 1), and 1 μg HuDom III (lane 2).

FIG. 7B is a graph showing the time course of HuAFP and HuDom III on immunosuppression of AMLR.

FIG. 8 is a schematic showing the nucleotide sequence (SEQ ID NO: 1) and deduced amino acid sequence (SEQ ID NO: 2) of the cDNA encoding human alpha-fetoprotein.

FIG. 9 is an autoradiograph showing the sizes of various AFP and AFP fragments (Lane A, MW marker; Lane B, HuAFP, Lane C, unpurified HuAFP and HuAFP Fragment I, Lane D, purified HuAFP Fragment I, and Lane E, purified full-length HuAFP).

FIG. 10A is a series of histograms showing an increased percentage of bone marrow cells (BM) that express the major histocompatibilty class I protein (MHC I) in presence of rHuAFP.

FIG. 10B is a bar graph showing an increased number of BM cells that express MHC I in the presence of rHuAFP.

FIG. 11A is a series of histograms showing an increased percentage of BM cells that express the major histocompatibilty class II protein (MHC II) in presence of rHuAFP.

FIG. 11B is a bar graph showing an increased number of BM cells that express MHC II in the presence of rHuAFP.

FIG. 12A is a series of FACS histogram patterns showing increased expression of the MHCI protein H-2K^(K) and increased expression of the MHCII protein I-2A^(k) in BM cells cultured in the presence of rHuAFP.

FIG. 12B is a series of bar graphs showing an increase in the percent of BM cells that express H-2K^(K+) and I-2A^(K+) in either medium alone (control), rHuAFP, human albumin (HuAlb), or mouse albumin (MoAlb).

FIG. 13 is a bar graph showing the viability of BM cell cultures treated with 1% FCS in the presence or absence of IL-3, IL-7, or rHuAFP.

FIG. 14A is a bar graph showing the density of non-irradiated BM cells cultured in the presence of rHuAFP or Il-7.

FIG. 14B is a bar graph showing the density of irradiated BM cells cultured in the presence of rHuAFP or Il-7.

FIG. 15A is a series of bar graphs showing enhanced expression of MHCI and enhanced density of MCHI-expressing BM in the presences of rHuAFP after irradiation.

FIG. 15B is a series of bar graphs showing enhanced expression of MHCII and enhanced density of MCHII-expressing BM in the presences of rHuAFP after irradiation.

PRODUCTION OF RECOMBINANT HUMAN ALPHA-FETOPROTEIN

As summarized above, the invention includes therapies for the prevention and treatment of autoimmune diseases involving recombinant human alpha-fetoprotein (“rHuAFP”) or fragments or analogs thereof.

Production of Recombinant E. coli Alpha-Fetoprotein

Methods for producing such rHuAFP in a prokaryotic cell are described in U.S. Ser. No. 08/133,773 and in U.S. Pat. No. 5,384,250, issued Jan. 24, 1995, hereby incorporated by reference.

Expression, Purification, and Characterization of Recombinant AFP Produced in Baculovirus (BrAFP)

One eukaryotic expression system that is widely employed for the overexpression of heterologous genes is the baculovirus expression system. There are several advantages to generating recombinant protein in baculovirus infected insect cells, including the ability of this expression system to produce high levels of soluble, secreted, and post-translationally modified proteins (see, O'Reilly, et al. Baculovirus Expression Vectors. A Laboratory Manual. W.H. Freeman and Company, New York, 1980). To investigate whether post-translational modifications play a role in mediating AFP immunomodulation, we compared the biological activities of a eukaryotic protein with that produced by a prokaryotic organism. E. coli was selected as the prokaryotic host in which to express AFP because it offered advantages such as ease and simplicity in cloning and expressing a heterologous gene (see, Balbas & Bolivar. Gene Expression Technology, Goeddel, D. V. ed. New York Academic Press, 1990), simple fusion protein strategies which ensures good translation initiation that may also permit one to overcome the instability problems that can be encountered with small peptides, and rapid generation of biomass due to high rates of cell growth (Id.).

Western blot analysis of serum free supernatants from recombinant baculovirus infected Sf9 cells detected a single immunoreactive band with monospecific anti-HuAFP Ab that was absent from the supernatant of uninfected or wild-type virus-infected Sf9 cells. Passage of the supernatant containing secreted BrAFP over ConA lectin chromatography resulted in the binding of the recombinant protein and elution in the flow through of more than 90% of the contaminating proteins. Methyl α-D mannopyranoside was used to elute BrAFP from the lectin column. Final purification of the BrAFP preparation was achieved by Mono Q FPLC chromatography, yielding a single polypeptide with an apparent molecular mass of 67 kD (FIG. 2B, lane 3). The BrAFP molecular weight is similar to that observed for the natural human molecule (FIG. 2B, lane 2). This result, in addition to the binding of BrAFP to the ConA column, indicated that BrAFP was post-translationally modified via glycosylation. However, the pattern of glycosylation of the BrAFP is expected to differ from that of the native molecule, since Sf9 cells infected with recombinant baculovirus have been reported to be deficient in their ability to carry out complex glycosylation normally observed with higher eukaryotic derived proteins (O'Reilly, supra; James, et al. Biotechnology 13:592-596, 1995). Purity of the isolated BrAFP was verified by APAGE and SDS-PAGE (FIGS. 2A & 2B, lane 2, respectively), and is illustrated by a single symmetrical peal on FPLC and HPLC chromatograms as shown in FIG. 2C, graph 2, and FIG. 2D, graph 2, respectively. N-terminal analysis revealed that the melittin signal peptide was cleaved from the mature recombinant human AFP polypeptide as predicted.

Recombinant AFP expressed in E. coli represented approximately 10% of total cell protein as determined by densitometric analysis of Coomassie blue stained SDS-PAGE gels. Alkaline washes of lysed E. Coli pellets removed major contaminating proteins resulting in a 4-fold enrichment of ErAFP. The recombinant protein was solubulized by dissolving the pellet in a buffer containing guanidine and β-mercaptoethanol, and subsequently refolded by rapid dilution of the denaturant and reducing agent. Monomer BrAFP and ErAFP was efficiently separated from micro aggregates by employing Q-Sparse chromatography. Pure ErAFP was subsequently recovered as a single homogenous peak by FPLC Mono-Q anion exchange chromatography. The final product migrated at 65 kD on SDS-PAGE (FIG. 2B, lane 4). Rechromatographed samples of pure ErAFP on FPLC and HPLC yielded a single peak as shown in FIG. 2C, graph 3 and FIG. 2D, graph 3 respectively, confirming the purity of the BrAFP and ErAFP preparation.

Baculovirus transfer vector pVT-PlacZ was modified by replacing the MCS with the oligonucleotide 5′-GATCTAGAATTCGGATCCGGT-3′ (SEQ ID NO: 17) and its complementary fragment, containing EcoR I and BamH I restrictions sites in the 5′ to 3′ direction. The rHuAFP cDNA fragment was isolated as above, inserted into the vector at the EcoR I and BamH I restriction sties and transformations were verified for the presence and correct orientation of the rHuAFP cDNA fragment under the control of the polyhedrin promoter by using restriction enzyme analysis.

Four mg of transfer vector pVT-PLacZ/HuAFP and 1 mg of linearized wild-type AcMNPV baculovirus DNA (Invitrogen, San Diego, Calif.) were co-transfected in the presence of 50 ml of Lipofectin Reagent (Gibco) into Spodoptera frigiperda (Sf9) cells. After 4-6 days of incubation, the transfection mixture was screened by a β-galactosidase assay and DNA slot-blot hybridizations for recombinant viruses containing both the β-galactosidase and rAFP cDNA's. Sf9 cells seeded at a density of 1×10⁶ cells/ml in 500 ml spinner flasks were infected with BrAFP baculovirus in serum-free Grace medium at a multiplicity of infection of 5. The supernatant was harvested at 72 hours post-infection by pelleting the Sf9 cells at 200×g for 10 minutes and the resultant media was concentrated 10-20 fold by ultrafiltration with a YM30 Amicon filter membrane (Amicon).

Concentrated Grace media containing baculovirus produced AFP was dialyzed against PBS overnight and then applied to a ConA Lectin column (Pharmacia) where all rAFP was bound to the column. Recombinant AFP (BrAFP) was eluted with 0.4M methyl a-D mannopyranoside and this fraction was further purified by recovering protein from a FPLC anion-exchange MonoQ column (Pharmacia) using a linear NaCl gradient from 0-100% 1 M NaCl in 20 mM phosphate buffer pH 8.0. Purified BrAFP protein preparations were dialyzed against 1×PBS and stored at −20° C.

Expression of Alpha-Fetoprotein in Eukaryotes

Recombinant alpha-fetoprotein can be expressed in transgenic animals. Transgenic animals may be prepared using methods well known to the skilled artisan. For example, to prepare transgenic rodents such as mice, methods such as those set forth by Hogan et al., eds. (Manipulating The Mouse Embryo: A Laboratory Manual, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press, Cold Spring Harbor, N.Y. [1986]) may be employed. Additionally, other animals that are suitable for expression of an alpha-fetoprotein transgene include goat, sheep, and cow.

Recombinant alpha-fetoprotein transgene expression can be directed to the milk of the transgenic animal. The alpha-fetoprotein transgene is generated in association with a mammary promoter to direct expression of the protein to the animal's milk; is introduced into the pronucleus of a mammalian zygote (usually by microinjection into one of the two nuclei (usually the male nucleus) in the pronucleus); and thereafter implanted into a foster mother. A proportion of the animals produced by the foster mother will carry and express the introduced gene that has integrated into a chromosome. Usually the integrated gene is passed on to offspring by conventional breeding thus allowing ready expansion of stock. Preferably the alpha-fetoprotein is simply harvested from the milk of female transgenic animals. Procedures for directing expression of a gene to the animal's milk are found in the following publications: Simons et al. (1988), Bio/Technology 6:179-183; Wright et al. (1991) Bio/Technology 9:830-834; U.S. Pat. No. 4,873,191 and; U.S. Pat. No. 5,322,775. Manipulation of mouse embryos is described in Hogan et al, “Manipulating the Mouse Embryo; A Laboratory Manual”, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory 1986.

Mammalian cells (for example, CHO, COS, and myeloma cells) can be used as host for the expression of alpha-fetoprotein cDNAs and fragments thereof to produce the corresponding proteins and peptides. For expression of constructs leading to direct expression of active COS or CHO cell expression systems are preferred. The alpha-fetoprotein cDNAs can be introduced to plasmids and allowed to integrate into chromosomal DNA especially for CHO cells or allowed to replicate to very high copy number especially in COS cells. The plasmids generally require a selectable marker for maintenance in transfected hosts, an efficient eukaryotic promoter to allow a high level of transcription from the cDNAs, convenient restriction enzyme sites for cloning and polyadenylation, and transcription termination signals for message stability. Several such vectors have been described in the literature (Bebbington, C. et al, 1992, Bio/Technology, vol 10, p 169-175, and Wright, A., 1991, Methods, vol 2, p 125-135) and there are commercially available vectors, (such as pRc/CMV, Invitrogen Corp.) which are suitable.

Fragments and Analogs

The invention includes biologically active fragments of AFP from rHuAFP. A biologically active fragment of rHuAFP is one that possesses at least one of the following activities: (a) directs a specific interaction with a target cell, e.g., binds to a cell expressing a receptor which is recognized by rHuAFP (e.g., the membrane of an autoreactive immune cell); or (b) halts, reduces, or inhibits the growth of an autoreactive immune cell (e.g., binds to a cell surface receptor and imparts an anti-proliferative signal); or (c) blocks, inhibits, or prevents an immunopathologic antibody reaction. The ability of rHuAFP fragments or analogs to bind to a receptor which is recognized by rHuAFP can be tested using any standard binding assay known in the art. Methods for assaying the biological activity or rHuAFP fragments and analogs are also known in the art, e.g., those described herein. Accordingly, a rHuAFP fragment, like the full-length rHuAFP molecule, can be used inhibit autoreactive immune cell proliferation.

In general, fragments of rHuAFP are produced according to the techniques of polypeptide expression and purification described in U.S. Ser. No. 08/133,773 (U.S. Pat. No. 5,384,250). For example, suitable fragments of rHuAFP can be produced by transformation of a suitable host bacterial cell with part of a HuAFP-encoding cDNA fragment (e.g., the cDNA described above) in a suitable expression vehicle. Alternatively, such fragments can be generated by standard techniques of PCR and cloned into the expression vectors (supra). Accordingly, once a fragment of rHuAFP is expressed, it may be isolated by various chromatographic and/or immunological methods known in the art. Lysis and fractionation of rHuAFP-containing cells prior to affinity chromatography may be performed by standard methods. Once isolated, the recombinant protein can, if desired, be further purified, e.g., by high performance liquid chromatography (see, e.g., Fisher, Laboratory Techniques In Biochemistry And Molecular Biology, Work and Burdon, eds., Elsevier, 1980).

A rHuAFP fragment may also be expressed as a fusion protein with maltose binding protein produced in E. coli. Using the maltose binding protein fusion and purification system (New England Biolabs), the cloned human cDNA sequence can be inserted downstream and in frame of the gene encoding maltose binding protein (malE), and the malE fusion protein can then be overexpressed. In the absence of convenient restriction sites in the human cDNA sequence, PCR can be used to introduce restriction sites compatible with the vector at the 5′ and 3′ end of the cDNA fragment to facilitate insertion of the cDNA fragment into the vector.

Following expression of the fusion protein, it can be purified by affinity chromatography. For example, the fusion protein can be purified by virtue of the ability of the maltose binding protein portion of the fusion protein to bind to amylose immobilized on a column.

To facilitate protein purification, the pMalE plasmid contains a factor Xa cleavage site upstream of the site into which the cDNA is inserted into the vector. Thus, the fusion protein purified as described above can then be cleaved with factor Xa to separate the maltose binding protein from a fragment of the recombinant human cDNA gene product. The cleavage products can be subjected to further chromatography to purify rHuAFP from the maltose binding protein. Alternatively, a fragment of rHuAFP may be expressed as a fusion protein containing a polyhistidine tag can be produced. Such an alpha-fetoprotein fusion protein may then be isolated by binding of the polyhistidine tag to an affinity column having a nickel moiety which binds the polyhistidine region with high affinity. The fusion protein may then be eluted by shifting the pH within the affinity column. The rHuAFP can be released from the polyhistidine sequences present in the resultant fusion protein by cleavage of the fusion protein with specific proteases.

Recombinant HuAFP fragment expression products (e.g., produced by any of the prokaryotic systems described in U.S. No. Ser. No. 08/133,773 (U.S. Pat. No. 5,384,250)) may be assayed by immunological procedures, such as Western blot, immunoprecipitation analysis of recombinant cell extracts, or immunofluorescence (using, e.g., the methods described in Ausubel et al., Current Protocols In Molecular Biology, Greene Publishing Associates and Wiley Interscience (John Wiley & Sons), New York, 1994).

Once a fragment of rHuAFP is expressed, it is isolated using the methods described supra. Once isolated, the fragment of rHuAFP can, if desired, be further purified by using the techniques described supra. Fragments can also be produced by chemical synthesis (e.g., by the methods described in Solid Phase Peptide Synthesis, 2nd ed., 1984, The Pierce Chemical Co., Rockford, Ill.). The ability of a candidate rHuAFP fragment to exhibit a biological activity of alpha-fetoprotein is assessed by methods known to those skilled in the art (e.g., those described herein).

The purified recombinant gene product or fragment thereof can then be used to raise polyclonal or monoclonal antibodies against the human recombinant alpha-fetoprotein using well-known methods (see Coligan et al., eds., Current Protocols in Immunology, 1992, Greene Publishing Associates and Wiley-Interscience). To generate monoclonal antibodies, a mouse can be immunized with the recombinant protein, and antibody-secreting B cells isolated and immortalized with a non-secretory myeloma cell fusion partner. Hybridomas are then screened for production of recombinant human alpha-fetoprotein (or a fragment or analog thereof)-specific antibodies and cloned to obtain a homogenous cell population that produces monoclonal antibodies.

As used herein, the term “fragment,” as applied to a rHuAFP polypeptide, is preferably at least 20 contiguous amino acids, preferably at least 50 contiguous amino acids, more preferably at least 100 contiguous amino acids, and most preferably at least 200 to 400 or more contiguous amino acids in length. Fragments of rHuAFP molecules can be generated by methods known to those skilled in the art, e.g., proteolytic cleavage or expression of recombinant peptides, or may result from normal protein processing (e.g., removal of amino acids from nascent polypeptide that are not required for biological activity).

Recombinant HuAFP fragments of interest include, but are not limited to, Domain I (amino acids 1 (Thr)-197 (Ser), see FIG. 4, SEQ ID NO: 3), Domain II (amino acids 198 (Ser)-389 (Ser), see FIG. 4, SEQ ID NO: 4), Domain III (amino acids 390 (Gln)-590 (Val), see FIG. 4, SEQ ID NO: 5), Domain I+II (amino acids 1 (Thr)-389 (Ser), see FIG. 4, SEQ ID NO: 6), Domain II+III (amino acids 198 (Ser)-590 (Val), see FIG. 4, SEQ ID NO: 7), and rHuAFP Fragment I (amino acids 266 (Met)-590 (Val), see FIG. 4, SEQ ID NO: 8). Activity of a fragment is evaluated experimentally using conventional techniques and assays, e.g., the assays described herein.

The invention further includes analogs of full-length rHuAFP or fragments thereof. Analogs can differ from rHuAFP by amino acid sequence differences, or by modifications (e.g., post-translational modifications), which do not affect sequence, or by both. Analogs of the invention will generally exhibit at least 80%, more preferably 85%, and most preferably 90% or even 99% amino acid identity with all or part of a rHuAFP amino acid sequence. Modifications (which do not normally alter primary sequence) include in vivo, or in vitro chemical derivatization of polypeptides, e.g., acetylation, or carboxylation; such modifications may occur during polypeptide synthesis or processing or following treatment with isolated modifying enzymes. Analogs can also differ from the naturally occurring rHuAFP by alterations in primary sequence, for example, substitution of one amino acid for another with similar characteristics (e.g., valine for glycine, arginine for lysine, etc.) or by one or more non-conservative amino acid substitutions, deletions, or insertions which do not abolish the polypeptide's biological activity. These include genetic variants, both natural and induced (for example, resulting from random mutagenesis by irradiation or exposure to ethanemethylsulfate or by site-specific mutagenesis as described in Sambrook et al., Molecular Cloning: A Laboratory Manual, 2nd ed., Cold Spring Harbor Press, 1989, or Ausubel et al., supra)). Also included are cyclized peptide molecules and analogs which contain residues other than L-amino acids, e.g., D-amino acids or non-naturally occurring or synthetic amino acids, e.g., β or γ amino acids, or L-amino acids with non-natural side chains (see e.g., Noren et al., Science 244:182, 1989). Methods for site-specific incorporation of non-natural amino acids into the protein backbone of proteins is described, e.g., in Ellman et al., Science 255:197, 1992. Also included are chemically synthesized polypeptides or peptides with modified peptide bonds (e.g., non-peptide bonds as described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,897,445 and U.S. Pat. No. 5,059,653) or modified side chains to obtain the desired pharmaceutical properties as described herein. Useful mutants and analogs are identified using conventional methods, e.g., those described herein.

The cloning, expression, isolation and characterization of exemplary rHuAFP fragments now follows.

These examples are provided to illustrate, not limit, the invention.

Experimental

Materials and Methods

Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) rHuAFP Fragments

Plasmid constructs encoding fragments of human alpha-fetoprotein were prepared using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) techniques known to those skilled in the art of molecular biology, using oligonucleotide primers designed to amplify specific portions of the human alpha-fetoprotein gene (see e.g., PCR Technology, H. A. Erlich, ed., Stockton Press, New York, 1989; PCR Protocols: A Guide to Methods and Applications, M. A. Innis, David H. Gelfand, John J. Sninsky, and Thomas J. White, eds., Academic Press, Inc., New York, 1990, and Ausubel et. al., supra).

The following six rHuAFP fragments were prepared to evaluate their biological activity (e.g., according to the methods disclosed herein): Domain I Amino acids 1 (Thr)-197 (Ser), (FIG. 4, SEQ ID NO: 3) Domain II Amino acids 198 (Ser)-389 (Ser), (FIG. 4, SEQ ID NO: 4) Domain III Amino acids 390 (Gln)-590 (Val), (FIG. 4, SEQ ID NO: 5) Domain I+II Amino acids 1 (Thr)-389 (Ser), (FIG. 4, SEQ ID NO: 6) Domain II+III Amino acids 198 (Ser)-590 (Val), (FIG. 4, SEQ ID NO: 7) rHuAFP Fragment I Amino acids 266 (Met)-590 (Val), (FIG. 4, SEQ ID NO: 8) Amino acid sequences were deduced from those for human alpha-fetoprotein (1 (Thr)-590 (Val); SEQ ID NO: 2) shown in FIG. 4. Fragments of rHuAFP designated Domain I, Domain II, Domain III, Domain I+II, Domain II+III and rHuAFP Fragment I were synthesized using standard PCR reaction conditions in 100 μL reactions containing 34 μL H₂O, 10 μL 10× reaction buffer, 20 μL 1 mM dNTP, 2 μL DNA template (HuAFP cloned in pI18), appropriate 5′ and 3′ oligonucleotide primers (10 μL 10 pmol/μL 5′ primer, 10 μL 10 pmol/μL 3′ primer), 1 μL glycerol, 10 μL DMSO, and 1 μL Pfu polymerase (Stratagene, LaJolla, Calif.). Primers used for PCR amplifications were:

DomI25 (SEQ ID NO: 9) 5′-AAAAAGGTACCACACTGCATAGAAATGAA-3′ DomI3 (SEQ ID NO: 10) 5′-AAAAAAGGATCCTTAGCTTTCTCTTAATTCTTT-3′ DomII5 (SEQ ID NO: 11) 5-′AAAAAAATCGATATGAGCTTGTTAAATCAACAT-3′ DomII3 (SEQ ID NO: 12) 5′-AAAAAAGGATCCTTAGCTCTCCTGGATGTATTT-3′ DomIII5 (SEQ ID NO: 13) 5′-AAAAAAATCGATATGCAAGCATTGGCAAAGCGA-3′ DomIII3 (SEQ ID NO: 14) 5′-AAAAAAGGATCCTTAAACTCCCAAAGCAGCACG-3′ 5′rHuAFP Fragment I (SEQ ID NO: 15) 5′-AAAAAAATCGATATGTCCTACATATGTTCTCAA-3′ Accordingly, primer pairs DomI25 and DomI3, DomII5 and DomII3, DomIII5 and DomIII3, 5′rHuAFP Fragment I and DomIII3, DomI25 and DomII3, and DomII5 and DomIII3 were used to isolate cDNA sequences of Domain I, Domain II, Domain III, rHuAFP Fragment I, Domain I+II, and Domain II+III, respectively, of rHuAFP. Annealing, extension, and denaturation temperatures were 50° C., 72° C., and 94° C., respectively, for 30 cycles. PCR products were purified according to standard methods. Purified PCR products encoding Domain I and Domain I+II were digested individually with KpnI and BamHI and cloned separately into KpnI/BamHI-treated pTrp4. Purified PCR products encoding Domain II, Domain III, Domain II+III, and rHuAFP Fragment I were digested individually with Bsp106I and BamHI and were cloned separately into Bsp106I/BamHI-treated pTrp4. Each plasmid construct was subsequently transformed into competent E. coli cells. Since the expression product will begin with the amino acid sequence encoded by the translation start signal methionine, it is expected that such signal will be removed, or in any event, not affect the bioactivity of the ultimate expression product.

Autologous Mixed Lymphocyte Reactions (AMLR)

AMLR assays were performed as described below.

Results

Expression and Purification

E. coli containing the expression plasmid encoding rHuAFP Fragment I was cultured and purified. FIG. 9 (lane D) shows the SDS-PAGE profile of the purified rHuAFP Fragment I. N-terminal amino acid sequence analysis showed that rHuAFP Fragment I possessed the amino acid sequence Ser₂₆₇-Tyr-Ile-Cys-Ser-Gln-Gln-Asp-Thr₂₇₅ (SEQ ID NO: 16) which corresponds to the expected N-terminal amino acid sequence of rHuAFP Fragment I (see FIG. 8, SEQ ID NO: 2) where the initiating methionine is cleaved intracellularly.

Inhibition of the Autologous Mixed Lymphocyte Reactions (AMLR)

The immunosuppressive activity of 100 μg/ml rHuAFP Fragment I was assessed by its ability to suppress human autologous mixed lymphocyte reactions (AMLR). As shown in Table I, rHuAFP Fragment I inhibited the proliferative response of autoreactive lymphocytes stimulated by autologous non-T cells at 144 hours.

TABLE I Thymidine Incorporation Reaction Setup (CPM) T Cells 7118 ± 964 AMLR 83103 ± 6480 AMLR + rHuAFP Fragment I 29692 ± 2963 (100 μg/ml)

Recombinant HuAFP as an Immunosuppressive Agent

Immunosuppressive attributes of rHuAFP (or a fragment or analog thereof) were evaluated by any standard assay for analysis of immunoregulatory activity in vivo or in vitro. As discussed infra, the art provides a number of animal systems for in vivo testing of immunosuppressive characteristics of rHuAFP (or a fragment or analog thereof) on an autoimmune disease, e.g., the nonobese diabetic (NOD) mouse. Furthermore, a wide variety of in vitro systems are also available for testing immunosuppressive aspects of rHuAFP e.g., one such in vitro assay evaluates the inhibition of autoantigen-induced proliferation of T cells in an autologous mixed lymphocyte reaction (AMLR).

The following examples demonstrate that unglycosylated rHuAFP inhibits T cell autoproliferation in response to self antigens. These examples are provided to illustrate, not limit, the invention.

Experimental Materials and Methods

Gel Electrophoresis, Immunoblotting and Purification

The purity and characterization of rHuAFP was evaluated by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) and nondenaturing alkaline PAGE (APAGE) according to standard methods. Gels were subsequently analyzed either by staining with Coomassie brilliant blue or by transferring electrophoretically separated polypeptides to Immobilon PVDF membranes (Millipore, Mississauga, ON) for immunoblotting analysis. Recombinant HuAFP-monospecific rabbit anti-natural HuAFP polyclonal antibody complexes were identified by alkaline-phosphatase-conjugated goat anti-rabbit IgG and the immunoreactive bands were detected with the BCIP/NBT color development solution (Bio-Rad Laboratories, Mississauga, ON) according to the manufacturer's instructions.

Column chromatography was performed according to standard methods.

Cell Preparation

Human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) were isolated from heparin-treated whole blood of normal adult donors by venipuncture. Blood was diluted 1:1 with PBS, layered on Ficoll-Hypaque (Sigma, St. Louis, Mo.) and centrifuged at 400×g for 30 min at 25° C. Cells were removed from the interface, washed 3 times in PBS and examined under microscope for viability using the Trypan Blue exclusion method. Cell preparations which were less than 95% viable were discarded. At this stage, the cell preparations were ready to be cultured for the Con A mitogen assay. For the autologous mixed lymphocyte reaction (AMLR), PBMC were fractionated into T cell and non T cell populations. Responder T cells for the AMLR were prepared by passing 1.5×10⁸ PBMC over a commercial Ig-anti-Ig affinity column (Biotex Laboratories, Edmonton, AB), washing 3 times in PBS, and resuspending them in RPMI-1640 medium. The separation of non-T from T cell populations in PBMC was based on the capacity of T cells to form E-rossettes with sheep red blood cells (SBRC) (Mendas, et al. J. Immunol. 111:860-867, 1973). One ml of pelleted SRBC was treated with 1 U of neuraminidase (Sigma) for 1 hour at 37° C., washed 3 times, and resuspended in 50 ml of RPMI media to yield a 2% SRBC solution. This procedure enhanced cellular interactions between T-cells and SRBC. PBMC (5-9×10⁷) were then incubated in a ratio of 1×10⁷ PBMC: 2 ml SRBC solution: 2 ml heat inactivated FCS at 37° C. for 10 min. This was followed by 5 min of centrifugation at 200×g prior to a second incubation for 60 min at 4° C. The cell mixtures were then gently resuspended and the rossetted T cells separated from the non-T cells by density centrifugation on Ficoll-Hypaque for 30 min at 400×g. The non-T cells were collected from the interface, washed three times and resuspended in RPMI-1640 media.

Autologous Mixed Lymphocyte Reactions (AMLR)

Isolation of human PBMC, their fractionation into non-T cell populations, and the AMLR, were performed according by the standard procedure described above. Responder T cells were isolated by passing 1.5×10⁸ PMBC over a commercial Ig-anti-Ig affinity column (Biotek Laboratories) and 2×10⁵ responder cells were subsequently cultured with 2×10⁵ autologous ¹³⁷Cs-irradiated (2500 rads) non-T stimulator cells from a single donor. The medium employed consisted of RPMI-1640 supplemented with 20 mM HEPES (Gibco), 5×10⁻⁵ M 2-mercaptoethanol (BDH, Montreal, QC), 4 mM L-glutamine (Gibco), 100 U/ml penicillin (Gibco) and 100 μg/ml streptomycin sulfate, with the addition of 10% fresh human serum autologous to the responder T cell donor for the AMLR. Varying concentrations of purified rHuAFP, human serum albumin (HSA), anti-HuAFP monoclonal antibodies clone #164 (125 μg/ml final concentration in culture) (Leinco Technologies, St. Louis, Mo.) were added at the initiation of cultures. AMLR cultures were incubated for 4 to 7 days, at 37° C. in 95% air and 5% CO₂. At the indicated intervals, DNA synthesis was assayed by a 6 hour pulse with 1 μCi of ³H-thymidine (specific activity 56 to 80 Ci/mmole, ICN). The cultures were harvested on a multiple sample harvester (Skatron, Sterling, Va.), and the incorporation of ³H-TdR was measured in a Packard 2500 TR liquid scintillation counter. Results are expressed as mean cpm±the standard error of the mean of triplicate or quadruplicate cultures.

Mitogen-Stimulated Lymphocyte Assays

Mitogen cultures consisted of 2.5×10⁵ PBMC stimulated with 1 μg/ml of Con A (Pharmacia). The media employed consisted of RPMI-1640 supplemented with 20 mM HEPES (Gibco), 5×10⁻⁵ M 2-mercaptoethanol (BDH, Montreal, QC), 4 mM L-glutamine (Gibco), 100 U/ml penicillin (Gibco) and 100 mg/ml streptomycin sulfate and 2 mg/ml of low endotoxin human serum albumin (HSA) (ICN Biomedials Canada, Mississauga, ON). Purified rAFP from both recombinant sources were added to the cultures at a concentration of 100 μg/ml. Mitogen reactions were cultured for 48 hours at 37° C. in 95% air and 5% CO₂ and assayed for proliferative responses as described for the AMLR.

Results

Expression and Purification of Human Alpha-Fetoprotein

Purity of isolated rHuAFP expressed in E. coli was verified as a single band on Coomassie stained APAGE and SDS-PAGE are shown in FIG. 1A-1B, respectively. Soluble monomeric rHuAFP derived from E. coli was obtained by eluting a protein fraction containing rHuAFP employing Q-sepharose chromatography. Approximately 1 mg of pure rHuAFP per liter of bacterial culture was recovered as a single homogeneous peak by FPLC Mono-Q anion exchange with 220-230 mM NaCl and migrated at approximately 65 kD on SDS-PAGE (FIG. 1B). Recombinant HuAFP exhibits a lower molecular weight on SDS-PAGE than natural HuAFP, since prokaryotic expression systems lack the enzymatic machinery required for glycosylation of proteins. Rechromatographed samples of pure rHuAFP on FPLC and HPLC yielded a single peak as shown in FIG. 1C and FIG. 1D, confirming the purity of the rHuAFP preparation. In addition, N-terminal sequencing data correspond to the expected amino acid sequence at the N-terminus of rHuAFP.

Inhibition of the AMLR

The immunosuppressive activity of rHuAFP was assessed by its ability to suppress human AMLR. As shown in FIG. 3A, rHuAFP inhibited the proliferative response of autoreactive lymphocytes stimulated by autologous non-T cells, throughout the 4 to 7 day time course measuring autoproliferation. Results from dose-response studies performed at the peak of T cell autoproliferation, as shown in FIG. 3B, demonstrate that the addition of rHuAFP at the initiation of cultures suppressed the AMLR in a dose-dependent manner. Furthermore, parallel viability studies established that the inhibitory activity of rHuAFP on human autoreactive T cells was not due to non-specific cytotoxic effects.

To further substantiate that rHuAFP was the agent responsible for the inhibition of autoproliferating T cells, blocking of rHuAFP-mediated suppression of the AMLR was performed using commercial murine anti-human AFP monoclonal antibodies (MAb). As illustrated in FIG. 4, suppression of proliferating autoreactive T cells by 100 μg/ml of rHuAFP was completely blocked by anti-HuAFP MAb. The addition of 100 μg/ml of HSA did not diminish the AMLR response and the presence of MAb alone in the reaction culture was without any effect.

Recombinant polypeptides produced in prokaryotic expression systems are at risk for contamination with host cell lipopolysaccharide (LPS) during their isolation from bacteria. It has been demonstrated that small amounts of LPS can antagonize the biological activities of cytokines, thereby impairing the immune responsiveness of macrophages. Accordingly, the effect of endotoxin on various rHuAFP preparations was evaluated by performing AMLR experiments with recombinant protein depleted of endotoxin by passage over Detoxi-gel (Pierce) versus that of rHuAFP which was untreated. Results of these experiments showed that both preparations had equivalent levels of immunosuppressive activity.

As shown in FIG. 3A and FIG. 3B, the results of this study also demonstrate that rHuAFP suppresses the proliferation of autoreaction T cells with a potency equivalent to glycosylated rHuAFP by eliciting inhibitory effects on autoproliferating T cells throughout the in vitro reactions, with highly significant inhibition being achieved with rHuAFP concentrations ranging from 5 μg/ml to 100 μg/ml.

Suppression of Autoproliferating and Mitogen Responsive Lymphocytes by BrAFP

In order to address in a definitive manner whether post-synthetic alterations play a role in mediating the immunosuppressive properties of AFP, we assessed the ability of BrAFP and ErAFP, which is not post-translationally modified, to suppress the proliferative response of autoreactive T cells in the AMLR. In FIG. 5, 100 μg/ml of BrAFP and ErAFP added at the initiation of the AMLR suppressed the lymphoproliferative response by 57% and 58%, respectively. Moreover, BrAFP and ErAFP anti-proliferative activity was blocked by the addition of anti-human AFP Mab. An equivalent amount of HSA augmented the reaction. The possibility that AFP might be causing a shift in the kinetics of the AMLR was eliminated, when rHuAFP, at a concentration of 100 μg/ml, was shown to inhibit autoreactive T lymphocytes from proliferating in response to autologous non-T cells throughout the autoproliferation stages of the time course from 96 to 168 hours (FIG. 3A).

We next examined the effects of various concentrations of rAFP on DNA synthesis in autoproliferating T cells. A representative experiment (FIG. 3B) demonstrates a marked dose-dependent inhibition of ³H-thymidine incorporation, with significant anti-proliferative effects still observed at 12 μg/ml. Viability studies established that the inhibitory activity of rAFP on human autoreactive T cells was not due to non-specific cytotoxic effects.

We carried out experiments in serum-free media to control for the possibility that exogenous serum factors may interact with the genetically engineered protein and mediate the anti-proliferative activity of recombinant human AFP. As shown in FIG. 6, experiments 1 and 2 demonstrate that the addition of 100 μg/ml of either BrAFP or ErAFP to in vitro cultures containing mitogen stimulated PBMC in RPMI media supplemented with 2 mg/ml HSA reduced lymphoproliferation by more than 60%. The addition of 100 μg/ml HSA also reduced lymphoproliferation by more than 60%. The addition of HSA at 100 μg/ml had no effect on the Con A assay. These results demonstrate that neither post-translational modifications nor exogenous serum factors mediate AFP immunosuppression.

Endotoxin does not Influence AFP-Mediated Immunosuppression

Recombinant polypeptides produced in prokaryotic expression systems are at risk for contamination with host cell lipopolysaccharides (endotoxin) during their isolation from bacteria. It has been demonstrated that small amounts of LPS can antagonize the biological activities of cytokines, thereby impairing the immune responsiveness of macrophages (Bogdan, et al. J. Immunol. 151:301-331, 1993). We therefore evaluated the effect of endotoxin on various ErAFP preparations by performing AMLR experiments with recombinant protein that had been treated to remove endogenous endotoxin by passage over Detoxi-gel (Pierce) versus that ErAFP which was not subjected to the affinity resin. As shown in FIG. 5, Exp 3, a five fold reduction in the amount of endotoxin to levels that are below those that stimulate the release of interleukin 1 from human monocytes (Duff, et al. J Immunol. Methods 52:323-331, 1982) did not alter the immunosuppressive activity of the recombinant protein.

Immunosuppression by a 35 kD Fragment Corresponding to an NH₂-Terminus Deletion of Full-Length ErAFP

An immunoblot analysis of whole bacterial cell extracts containing ErAFP identified, in addition to the 67 kD whole AFP molecule, an immunoreactive protein band with an approximate molecular weight of 35 kD. This protein was purified on MonoQ FPLC. Amino terminal sequencing of the 35 kD fragment revealed that this polypeptide corresponded to the COOH two-thirds of full-length AFP, beginning at amino acid position 267:

(SEQ ID NO: 18) 1                 5                   10 Ser-Tyr-Ile-Cys-Ser-Gln-Gln-Asp-Thr-Leu- Consequently, we wanted to determine whether this truncated AFP fragment termed AFP Δ(1-226) retained the immunosuppressive activity that is observed with the intact molecule. For comparison, the 25 kD fragment was evaluated in parallel with the complete ErAFP molecule for its ability to down regulate in vitro T cell proliferative reactions. It was observed that the AFP Δ(1-226) polypeptide was similar to full-length rAFP with respect to mediating immunoregulation, suppressing the AMLR throughout the kinetics of autoproliferation (FIG. 3) and inhibiting mitogen induced PBL proliferation by 61% (FIG. 6, Exp. 3). This finding indicates that the first 266 amino acids of AFP are not required for immunoregulation.

Generation of a Bioactive AFP Fragment Corresponding to Domain 3

The previous study indicated that immunoregulatory active sites are present within the last two thirds of Domain 2 and intact Domain 3. Thus, a gene segment corresponding to the third domain of AFP (Morinaga, et al. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 80:4604, 1983) was cloned by PCR into E. coli. The protein was identified by immunoblot employing anti-human AFP polyclonal antibodies and was subsequently purified by Q-sepharose and Mono Q anion exchange chromatography. The inhibitory activity of Domain 3 on autoproliferating and mitogen induced proliferating T lymphocytes was performed in parallel with full-length rAFP. As shown in the representative experiment in FIG. 7A, the truncated AFP segment suppressed Con A stimulated PBL's by 60% and inhibited the AMLR by 79%, whereas full-length rAFP downregulated the same in vitro responses by 50% and 58% respectively. These results demonstrate that active sites for immunoregulation exist in the latter third of the AFP molecule.

Autoimmune Disease

As is discussed above, autoimmune diseases are characterized by a loss of tolerance to self antigens, causing cells of the immune systems, e.g., T or B cells (or both), to react against self tissue antigens. Autoimmune diseases may involve any organ system, although some are affected more commonly than others. Examples of tissues affected by autoimmune conditions include: the white matter of the brain and spinal cord in multiple sclerosis; the lining of the joints in rheumatoid arthritis; and the insulin secreting β islet cells of the pancreas in insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus. Other forms of autoimmune disease destroy the connections between nerve and muscle in myasthenia gravis or destroy the kidneys and other organs in systemic lupus erythematosus. Examples of other autoimmune diseases include, without limitation, Addison's disease, Crohn's disease, Graves' disease, psoriasis, scleroderma, and ulcerative colitis.

The art provides a wide variety of experimental animal systems, transgenic and non-transgenic, for testing therapies for human illness involving autoimmune diseases (see e.g., Paul, W. E., Fundamental Immunology, 2nd ed., Raven Press, New York, 1989; and Kandel et al. Principles of Neural Science, 3rd ed., Appleton and Lange, Norwalk, Conn., 1991; and Current Protocols In Immunology, Coligan, J. E., Kruisbeek, A. M., Margulies, D. H., Shevach, E. M., and Strober, eds., Green Publishing Associates (John Wiley & Sons), New York, 1992). Based on the above-described experimental results showing immunosuppressive activity of unglycosylated rHuAFP, it is reasonable to believe that other autoimmune diseases can be treated by administration of such rHuAFP (or fragment or analog thereof) produced in a prokaryotic system. Accordingly, the invention provides the use of rHuAFP (or a fragment or analog thereof) for treatment (i.e., prevention or suppression or amelioration or promotion of remission) of any autoimmune disease.

There now follow examples of animal systems useful for evaluating the efficacy of recombinant human alpha-fetoprotein or an immune cell anti-proliferative fragment or analog thereof in treating autoimmune diseases. These examples are provided for the purpose of illustrating, not limiting, the invention.

Multiple Sclerosis

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a demyelinating disease involving scattered areas of the white matter of the central nervous system. In MS, myelin basic protein and proteolipid protein are the major targets of an autoimmune response involving T lymphocytes, among other immune system components. Loss of the myelin sheath of nerve cells (demyelination) occurs, resulting in neurological symptoms that culminate in coma or paralysis.

Experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) is a primary model used in the art to examine and assess the effectiveness of therapeutic agents for treating MS. EAE is an inflammatory autoimmune demyelinating disease induced in laboratory animals by immunization with central nervous system tissue. When animals (e.g., mice, rats, guinea pigs, rabbits, monkeys, etc.) are injected with adjuvant, e.g., complete Freund's adjuvant, plus myelin basic protein or proteolipid protein, EAE is induced, which is similar, pathologically to MS (see e.g., Alvord et al., Experimental Allergic Encephalomyelitis—A Useful Model for Multiple Sclerosis, Liss, New York, 1984; Swanborg, Meth. Enzymol. 162:413, 1988; and McCarron et al., J. Immunol., 147: 3296, 1991.)

To evaluate rHuAFP or a fragment or analog thereof, EAE is induced in an appropriate laboratory animal, e.g., a mouse or rabbit, according to methods known in the art. To evaluate the compound's immunosuppressive effect on EAE, i.e., its ability to prevent or ameliorate EAE, the compound is administered according to standard methods, e.g., intravenously or intraperitoneal, at an appropriate dosage on a daily basis. Generally, administration is initiated prior to inducing EAE and/or after the clinical appearance of EAE. Control animals receive a placebo, e.g., human serum albumin, similarly administered as for rHuAFP or related molecules. The effect of the test molecules on EAE is monitored according to any standard method. For example, weight loss and muscle paralysis in EAE-induced animals is monitored on a daily basis. If desired, histological inspection (e.g., by using any standard histochemical or immunohistochemical procedure, see e.g., Ausubel et al., Current Protocols In Molecular Biology, Greene Publishing Associates (John Wiley & Son), New York, 1994; Bancroft and Stevens, Theory and Practice of Histochemical Techniques, Churchill Livingstone, 1982) of brain and spinal cord tissues is performed and tissue samples examined microscopically for evidence of EAE, e.g., evidence of perivascular cellular infiltrates. Comparative studies between treated and control animals are used to determine the relative efficacy of the test molecules in preventing or ameliorating EAE. A molecule which prevents or ameliorates (decreases or suppresses or relieves or promotes remission of) the symptoms of EAE is considered useful in the invention.

Rheumatoid Arthritis

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a common chronic illness in which the synovial membrane of multiple joints becomes inflamed, causing damage to cartilage and bone. RA is associated with human lymphocyte antigen (HLA)-DR4 and considered to be an autoimmune disorder involving T cells, see e.g., Sewell et al., Lancet 341: 283, 1993. RA results from a complex interaction of synovial cells with various cellular elements (and their soluble products) that infiltrate from the circulation into the synovial lining of joints. A series of biological events occur which ultimately lead to a lesion which invades and erodes collagen and the cartilage matrix of the joint.

A number of animal models of RA, e.g., the MRL-lpr/lpr mouse, are known in the art which develop a form of arthritis resembling the human disease (see e.g., Fundamental Immunology, supra). Alternatively, autoimmune collagen arthritis (ACA) and adjuvant arthritis (AA) can be induced in an appropriate animal according to standard methods.

To evaluate rHuAFP or a fragment or analog thereof on immunosuppressive on RA, i.e., the compound's ability to prevent or ameliorate RA, the test molecule is administered to a MRL-lpr/lpr mouse according to standard methods, e.g., intravenously or intraperitoneally, at an appropriate dosage on a daily basis. Generally, administration is initiated prior to the onset of RA and/or after the clinical appearance of RA. Control animals receive a placebo, e.g., human serum albumin, similarly administered as for rHuAFP or related molecules. The effect of the test molecule on RA is monitored according to standard methods. For example, analysis of the cellular component(s) of a synovial joint are monitored on a daily basis. If desired, histological inspection (e.g., by using any standard histochemical or immunohistochemical procedure, see e.g., Ausubel et al., supra; Bancroft and Stevens, supra) of the synovial joint is performed and tissue samples examined microscopically for evidence of RA, e.g., evidence of erosion of collagen and cartilage matrix in a joint. Comparative studies between treated and control animals are used to determine the relative efficacy of the test molecule in preventing or ameliorating RA. A test molecule which prevents or ameliorates (decreases or suppresses or relieves or promotes remission of) the symptoms of RA is considered useful in the invention.

Myasthenia Gravis

Myasthenia gravis (MG) is a disorder of neuromuscular transmission in which there are autoantibodies against acetylcholine receptors of neuromuscular junctions. Antibodies attack the junction, causing weakness and paralysis. Females are afflicted twice as often as males, typically during the third decade of life. Muscular weakness is the predominant feature of the disease. Clinical signs include drooping of the eyelids and double vision. There is an association between MG and hyperthyroidism.

Experimental autoimmune MG (EAMG) has been studied in a variety of animals including rabbits, monkeys, Lewis rats and inbred strains of mice (see e.g., Principles of Neural Science, supra), the symptoms of EAMG resemble the essential characteristics of the human disease. A single injection of acetylcholine receptor, e.g., purified from the electric organs of the eel Torpedo californica, along with adjuvants, causes an acute phase of weakness within 8 to 12 days and then chronic weakness after about 30 days. The response to the eel receptor is T cell dependent. The C57BL/6 strain (H-2B) is a high responder to Torpedo receptor and highly susceptible to EAMG.

To evaluate rHuAFP or a fragment or analog thereof, EAMG is induced in an appropriate laboratory animal, e.g., the C57BL/6 strain (H-2^(B)) mouse, according to methods known in the art. To evaluate the compound's immunosuppressive effect on EAMG, i.e., its ability to prevent or ameliorate EAMG, the compound is administered according to standard methods, e.g., intravenously or intraperitoneally, at an appropriate dosage on a daily basis. Generally, administration is initiated prior to inducing EAMG and/or after the clinical appearance of EAMG. Control animals receive a placebo, e.g., human serum albumin, similarly administered as for rHuAFP or related molecules. The effect of the test molecules on EAMG is monitored according to standard methods. For example, nerve stimulation in an electromyographic muscle assay (e.g., according to the methods of Pachner et al., Ann. Neurol. 11:48, 1982) in EAMG-induced animals can be assayed. If desired, histological inspection (e.g., by using any standard histochemical or immunohistochemical procedure, see e.g., Ausubel et al., supra; Bancroft and Stevens, supra) of tissue samples is performed and tissue samples examined microscopically for evidence of EAMG, e.g., evidence of monocyte infiltration and/or autoantibody localization at acetylcholine receptors of neuromuscular junctions. Comparative studies between treated and control animals are used to determine the relative efficacy of the test molecules in preventing or ameliorating EAMG. A molecule which prevents or ameliorates (decreases or suppresses or relieves or promotes remission of) the symptoms of EAMG is considered useful in the invention.

Insulin-Dependent Diabetes Mellitus

Diabetes is a disorder of glucose metabolism. Insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM), also known as Type I diabetes, is an autoimmune disease characterized by T-cell mediated destruction of pancreatic β cells in the islets of Langerhans, accompanied by an immune response to a diversity of self peptides leading to hyperglycemia, among other pathological events. IDDM patients depend on exogenous insulin to maintain normal glucose metabolism. Humans at risk for developing IDDM can be identified prior to onset of hyperglycemia by the abnormal occurrence of autoantibodies to insulin, islet cells, glutamic acid carboxylase, as well as other autologous proteins (see e.g., Baekkeskov et al., J. Clin. Invest. 79:926, 1987; Dean et al., Diabetologia 29: 339, 1986; Rossini et al., Annu. Rev. Immunol. 3:289, 1985; Srikanta et al., N. Engl. J. Med. 308:322, 1983). Autoantibody patterns, in general, are predictive for the eventual disease progression and/or risk for developing the disease (see e.g., Keller et al., Lancet 341:927, 1993).

Examples of animal models which spontaneously develop IDDM resembling the human disease include the Bio-Breeding (BB) rat and nonobese diabetic (NOD) mouse. Diabetes is also experimentally induced by streptozotocin.

The BB rat spontaneously develops a disease similar to IDDM, with insulitis (infiltration of mononuclear cells into the pancreatic islets) and autoantibodies against self cells and insulin (see e.g., Baekkeskov et al., J. Clin. Invest. 79:926, 1987; Rossini et al, supra; Nakhooda et al., Diabetes 26: 100, 1977; Dean et al., Clin. Exp. Immunol. 69: 308, 1987).

NOD mice typically develop insulitis between 5 and 8 weeks of age, and by 7 months 70% of the females and 40% of the males become diabetic. T cells transferred from diabetic mice to young nondiabetic NOD mice induce diabetes within 2 to 3 weeks (see e.g., Bendelac et al., J. Exp. Med. 166:823, 1987). NOD mice usually die within 1 to 2 months after the onset of diabetes unless they receive insulin therapy.

Chemically induced diabetes is accomplished using multiple injections of small doses of streptozotocin, a drug toxic for pancreatic β cells, which causes severe insulitis and diabetes (see e.g., Kikutani et al., Adv. Immunol. 51:285, 1992).

Accordingly, the art provides a variety animal models resembling human IDDM which can be used to examine and assess approaches for the prevention or amelioration of diabetes involving rHuAFP (or a fragment or analog thereof).

To evaluate the immunosuppressive effect of rHuAFP or a fragment or analog thereof on the development of diabetes mouse, i.e., the compound's ability to treat or prevent insulitis and diabetes, the test compound is administered to an appropriate test animal, e.g, a NOD mouse, according to standard methods, e.g., intravenously or intraperitoneally, at an appropriate dosage on a daily basis. Generally, administration is initiated prior to the onset of insulitis and diabetes and/or after the clinical appearance of diabetic characteristics. Control animals receive a placebo, e.g., human serum albumin, similarly administered as for rHuAFP or related molecules. The effect of test molecules on insulitis and diabetes is monitored according to standard methods. For example, weight loss, ketone body formation, and blood glucose concentration is monitored on a daily basis. If desired, histological inspection (e.g., by using any standard histochemical or immunohistochemical procedure, see e.g., Ausubel et al., supra; Bancroft and Stevens, supra) of pancreatic islet cells is performed and tissue samples examined microscopically for evidence of insulitis and β cell destruction. Comparative studies between treated and control animals are used to determine the relative efficacy of the test molecules in preventing or ameliorating the diabetic condition. A molecule which prevents or ameliorates (decreases or suppresses or relieves or promotes remission of) the symptoms of diabetes, e.g., IDDM, is considered useful in the invention.

Systemic Lupus Erythematosus

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a severe systemic autoimmune disease. About 90% of patients with this disease are young women. This marked preponderance of females is not seen before puberty or after menopause. The illness generally begins in young adulthood when a characteristic skin rash appears over cheekbones and forehead. Hair loss is common, as is severe kidney damage, arthritis, accumulation of fluid around the heart and inflammation of the lining of the lungs. In nearly half of the patients the blood vessels of the brain also become inflamed, leading to paralysis and convulsions. The activity of the disease, like other autoimmune diseases, can fluctuate: long quiescent periods of good health can terminate abruptly and inexplicably with the onset of a new attack. A large number of different autoantibodies are known to occur in SLE, e.g., autoantibodies against DNA, RNA and histones (see, e.g., Fundamental Immunology, supra)

A number of animal models of human SLE, e.g., inbred mouse strains including NZB mice and their F₁ hybrids, MRL mice, and BXSB mice, are known in the art (see e.g., Bielschowsky et al. Proc. Univ. Otago Med. Sch. 37:9, 1959; Braverman et al., J. Invest. Derm. 50: 483, 1968; Howie et al. Adv. Immunol. 9:215, 1968; Genetic Control of Autoimmune Disease, Rose, M., Bigazzi, P. E., and Warner, N. L. eds., Elsevier, Amsterdam, 1979; and Current Protocols In Immunology, supra). For example, the NZBxNZW F₁ mouse is an excellent model of human SLE, female mice develop high levels of anti-double- and single-stranded DNA autoantibodies, other anti-nuclear antibodies, and renal disease; death usually occurs at approximately 8 months (see e.g., Theofilopoulos et al., Adv. Immunol. 37:269, 1985).

To evaluate the immunosuppressive effect of rHuAFP or a fragment or analog thereof on SLE, i.e., the compound's ability of rHuAFP to prevent or ameliorate SLE, test compounds are administered to an appropriate animal, e.g., the NZBxNZW F₁ mouse, according to standard methods, e.g., intravenously or intraperitoneally, at an appropriate dosage on a daily basis. Generally, administration is initiated prior to the onset of SLE and/or after the clinical appearance of SLE. Control animals receive a placebo, e.g., human serum albumin, similarly administered as for rHuAFP or related molecules. The effect of the test compound on SLE is monitored according to standard methods. For example, analysis of autoantibodies, e.g., anti-DNA antibodies can be monitored. If desired, histological inspection (e.g., by using any standard histochemical or immunohistochemical procedure, see e.g., Ausubel et al., supra; Bancroft and Stevens, supra) of kidney tissue is performed and tissue samples examined microscopically for evidence of SLE, e.g., evidence of lupus nephritis. Comparative studies between treated and control animals are used to determine the relative efficacy of the test compounds in preventing or ameliorating SLE. A molecule which prevents or ameliorates (decreases or suppresses or relieves or promotes remission of) the symptoms of SLE is considered useful in the invention.

Therapeutic Administration

As demonstrated above, recombinant alpha-fetoprotein, e.g., rHuAFP (or a fragment or analog thereof) is effective in inhibiting proliferation of autoimmune cells and accordingly is useful for the prevention or amelioration of autoimmune diseases including, but not limited to, multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis, diabetes mellitus, systemic lupus erythematosus, and myasthenia gravis. Accordingly, recombinant human alpha-fetoprotein (or a fragment or analog thereof) can be formulated according to known methods to prepare pharmaceutically useful compositions.

Recombinant alpha-fetoprotein, e.g., rHuAFP (or a fragment or analog thereof), is preferably administered to the patient in an amount which is effective in preventing or ameliorating the symptoms of an autoimmune disease. Generally, a dosage of 0.1 ng/kg to 10 g/kg body is adequate. If desired, administration is performed on a daily basis. Because there are no known adverse side effects related to recombinant human alpha-fetoprotein, it is believed that relatively high dosages can be safely administered. For example, treatment of human patients will be carried out using a therapeutically effective amount of rHuAFP (or a fragment or analog thereof) in a physiologically acceptable carrier. Suitable carriers and their formulation are described for example in Remington's Pharmaceutical Sciences by E.W. Martin. The amount of rHuAFP to be administered will vary depending upon the manner of administration, the age and body weight of the patient, and with the type of disease, and size of the patient predisposed to or suffering from the disease. Preferable routes of administration include, for example, subcutaneous, intravenous, intramuscular, or intradermal injections which provide continuous, sustained levels of the drug in the patient. In other preferred routes of administration, rHuAFP can be given to a patient by injection or implantation of a slow release preparation, for example, in a slowly dissociating polymeric or crystalline form; this sort of sustained administration can follow an initial delivery of the drug by more conventional routes (for example, those described above). Alternatively, rHuAFP can be administered using an infusion pump (e.g., an external or implantable infusion pump), thus allowing a precise degree of control over the rate of drug release, or through installation of rHuAFP in the nasal passages in a similar fashion to that used to promote absorption of insulin. As an alternative to nasal transmucosal absorption, rHuAFP can be delivered by aerosol deposition of the powder or solution into the lungs.

Furthermore, the method(s) of the invention can also employ combination therapy in which rHuAFP is administered either simultaneously or sequentially with a therapeutic agent such as a general or specific tolerizing agent (e.g., an anti-idiotypic agent (e.g., a monoclonal) or a therapeutic vaccine or an oral agent (e.g., insulin, collagen or myelin basic protein) or a cytokine (e.g., Il-15) or an interferon (α-interferon) or an immunosuppressive agent. Preferably, an immunosuppressive agent is administered in an effective dose which is lower than the standard dose when the immunosuppressive agent is used by itself. Preferred immunosuppressive agents are cyclosporine, FK-506, steroids, azathioprine, or 15-deoxyspergualin.

Treatment is started generally with the diagnosis or suspicion of an autoimmune disease and is generally repeated on a daily basis. Protection or prevention from the development (or progression or exacerbation) of an autoimmune disease is also achieved by administration of rHuAFP prior to the onset of the disease. If desired, the efficacy of the treatment or protection regimens is assessed with the methods of monitoring or diagnosing patients for autoimmune disease.

The method(s) of the invention can also be used to treat non-human mammals, for example, domestic pets, or livestock.

OTHER EMBODIMENTS

In other embodiments, the invention includes the use of rHuAFP (or fragment or analog thereof) for the prevention or treatment of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). To evaluate the immunosuppressive effect of rHuAFP or a fragment or analog thereof on AIDS, i.e., the compound's ability to prevent or ameliorate an autoimmune component of AIDS, test compounds are administered to an appropriate animal (e.g., a human patient), according to standard methods, e.g., intravenously or intraperitoneally, at an appropriate dosage on a daily basis as is discussed above. Generally, administration is initiated prior to the onset of AIDS and/or after the clinical appearance of AIDS. Control animals receive a placebo, e.g., human serum albumin, similarly administered as for rHuAFP or related molecules. The effect of the test compound on AIDS is monitored according to standard methods. For example, analysis of the ability of the test compound to inhibit or prevent or ameliorate the destruction of helper T cells can be monitored. Comparative studies between treated and control animals are used to determine the relative efficacy of the test compounds in preventing or ameliorating AIDS. A molecule which prevents or ameliorates (decreases or suppresses or relieves or promotes remission of) the symptoms of AIDS is considered useful in the invention.

In the invention also includes the use of a therapeutically effective amount rHuAFP (or fragment or analog thereof) for inhibiting the rejection of a transplanted organ (e.g., the heart, the liver, the lung, the pancreas, and the kidney), tissue (e.g., skin, bone marrow, dura mater, bone, implanted collagen, an implanted bioreactor), or cell (e.g., β islet cells of the pancreas, stem cells, hematopoietic cells, lymph cells, neuroendocrine or adrenal cells) in a mammal. Such transplanted organs, tissues, or cells may be derived from any source, e.g., such biological material can be allogenic, phenogenic, autologous, synthetic, artificial or genetically-engineered. For example, the method can also be used when the patient is the recipient of an allograft such a heart or kidney from another species.

In one working example, the immunosuppressive effect of rHuAFP on clinical transplantation, i.e., the ability of rHuAFP to prevent or ameliorate transplant rejection (e.g., hyperacute rejection, acute rejection and chronic rejection), is evaluated by administering rHuAFP to an NIH minipig according to standard methods, e.g., intravenously or intraperitoneally, at an appropriate dosage on a daily basis. Generally, administration of rHuAFP is initiated prior to the transplant, e.g., transplantation of a kidney and/or after the transplant procedure. Control animals receive a placebo, e.g., human serum albumin, similarly administered as for rHuAFP. The effect of rHuAFP on transplant rejection is monitored according to standard methods. One manifestation of the rejection process is diminished function of the transplanted organ, for example, analysis of urine output can be monitored. If desired, histological inspection (e.g., by using any standard histochemical or immunohistochemical procedure, see e.g., Ausubel et al., supra; Bancroft and Stevens, supra) of kidney tissue is performed and tissue samples obtained by biopsy are examined microscopically for evidence of transplant rejection, e.g., chronic interstitial fibrosis, vascular thrombosis, or the presence of abnormal lymphocytic infiltrates. Comparative studies between treated and control animals are used to determine the relative efficacy of rHuAFP in preventing or ameliorating transplant rejection. Recombinant HuAFP (a fragment or analog thereof) which prevents or ameliorates (decreases or suppresses or relieves or promotes remission of) the symptoms of transplant rejection is considered useful in the invention.

Graft-Versus-Host Disease

Studies of neonatal mice grafted with allogeneic T cells indicates that treatment with rHuAFP has an inhibitory effect on GVHD. SCID mice at 3 days of age were used as recipients because of their lack of functional B and T cells. In this experimental system the grafted T cells can react against the host whereas the recipient mice cannot mount an effective response against the graft. A SCID mouse (3 days post-natal) was injected i.p. with 100 μl PBS and 4 hours later with 5×10⁶ spleen T cells from C57Bl/6 in 100 μl PBS on day 0. This mouse was thereafter injected with 100 μl PBS day 1 and 3. The results from this mouse are presented in the B6 column. A SCID mouse (3 days post-natal) was injected i.p. with 200 μg rHuAFP in 100 μl PBP (100 μg rHuAFP per gram body weight) and 4 hours later with 5×10⁶ spleen T cells from C56B1/6 in 100 μl PBS on day 0. This mouse was thereafter injected with 50 μg rHuAFP per gram body weight in 100 μl PBS on day 1 and 3. The results from this mouse are presented in the B6+AFP column.

In this experimental system loss of weight and decreased cell numbers in the lymphoid organs are cardinal signs of severe GVHD. Differences could be detected in weight, as the mouse inj. B6+AFP gained more weight than the one inj. B6 (Table 2). The weight of the AFP treated mouse was close to that of age-matched untreated SCID mice at our animal facilities.

TABLE 2 Weight (g) inj inj Day B6 B6 + AFP 0 1.6 1.9 3 2.8 3.2 5 3.2 4.1

Moreover, at 5 days p.i. the total cell numbers in spleen, bone marrow, and liver were lower in the mouse inj. B6 when compared to the mouse inj. B6+AFP (Table 3). A SCID mouse received an allogenic T cell graft in the absence (inj. B6) or presence (inj. B6+AFP) of rHuAFP as described for FIG. 5. At 5 days post-injection, organ size was determined an presented by the number cells in each tissue (cells×10⁻⁶).

TABLE 3 Organ sizes (cells × 10⁻⁶) Organ inj. B6 inj. B6 + AFP Spleen 12 32 Bone Marrow 6.0 9.2 Liver 0.56 1.0

At day 5 p.i. the mouse injected with C57Bl/6 only had a higher percentage of exogenous T cells in spleen, bone marrow, and liver than the mouse treated with AFP as determined in FACS. Also, at this time-point the amount of cells expressing CD19 and CD117 (c-kit) was lower in the liver of the mouse that was not treated with AFP both when counted in percentage and total cell numbers which indicates a more severe GVHD. When sera from the mice were analyzed for interferon-γ content, an interleukin that is elevated during acute GVHD, the concentration in mice inj. B6 (6.5 ng/ml) was twice as high as for mice inj. B6+AFP (3.1 ng/ml). Thus, these data from GVHD studies indicates an inhibitory effect of AFP on the allogeneic T cells and suppress GVHD.

Transplant rejection

Results

Enhanced MHC Expression on BM Cells Cultured in the Presence of rHuAFP.

BM cells from adult C.B-17 mice cultured for three days in the presence of optimal doses of IL-3 (2000 U/ml), IL-7 (1%), or rHuAFP (100 μg/ml) were analyzed for expression of MHC class I (H-2K^(d)) and MHC class II (I-A^(d)). Bone marrow cells (2.5×10⁶/ml) from C.B.-17 mice were cultured in 2 ml of f-DMEM medium containing 1% FCS in the presence or absence of IL-3, IL-7, or rHuAFP. At 3 days of culture, cells were harvested and stained with anti-H-2K^(d) and analyzed in FACS. The figure shows percent of cells with high expression of H-2K^(d) in medium control, IL-3, IL-7, and rHuAFP cultures in a representative experiment. As demonstrated in a representative experiment, a substantial increase in the intensity of MHC class I (MHC I) expression was seen on BM cells cultured in the presence of rHuAFP where 90% of the cells were MHC I^(high) compared to 61%, 40% and 33% for cells cultured with IL-3, IL-7 and with medium only respectively (FIGS. 10A and 10B). In the individual experiments, rHuAFP induced high intensity of MHC I expression on between 88% and 98% of the cells and interestingly, similar percentages were seen even after a 10-fold decrease in the concentration of rHuAFP, i.e. to 10 μg/ml.

Despite the fact that the total cell numbers were not higher in cultures supplemented with AFP than with IL-3 or IL-7 (FIG. 13), also the absolute numbers of cells with high expression of MHC I were significantly higher in the presence of AFP (FIG. 2B). (Schneider). Bone marrow cells (10⁶ to 2.5×10⁶/ml) from C.B-17 mice were cultured in 2 ml of f-DMEM medium containing 1% FCS in the presence or absence of IL-3, IL-7, or rHuAFP. At 3 days of culture, cells were harvested and cell viability was determined with the trypan blue dye exclusion test. The figure shows mean percent standard deviation of viable cells at 3 days of culture out of total number of seeded cells at day 0 as counted from 4 separate experiments where the total number of seeded cells varied between 2×10⁶ to 5×10⁶ per well. The cells were cultured and treated as described in FIG. 1A. The figure shows absolute numbers of cells with high expression of H-2K^(d) in medium control, IL-3, IL-7, and rHuAFP cultures in a representative experiment.

An increased frequency of MHC class II (MHC II) positive cells was also seen in the presence of rHuAFP. Bone marrow cells from C.B-17 mice were cultured as described in FIGS. 11A and 11B. At 3 days of culture, cells were harvested and stained with anti-I-A^(d) and analyzed in FACS. The figure shows percent of cells positive for I-A^(d) in medium control, IL-3, IL-7, and rHuAFP cultures in representative experiment. Flow cytometry analysis showed that 55% of the BM cells were MHC II⁺ after three days of culture with rHuAFP (FIG. 11B) with was nearly twice the percentage at day 0 (data not shown) and more than in the medium control and in the presence of IL-3 and IL-7.

The absolute numbers of MHC II positive cells were similar in IL-7 and AFP cultures but significantly higher than in the medium control and IL-3 cultures (FIG. 11B). (Schneider) Bone marrow cells from C.B-17 mice were cultured as described in FIG. 1A and harvested and analyzed as described in FIG. 11A. The figures shows absolute numbers of cells positive for I-A^(d) in medium control, IL-3, IL-7, and rHuAFP cultures in representative experiment.

There are numerous studies which have shown that AFP can exert growth regulatory effects of MHC class II expressing cells such as monocytes and thyroid epithelia cells (Wang, et al. Hepatology 22:921-928, 1995). We wanted to ascertain whether I-A^(k) expressing cells within whole bone marrow would be modulated upon co-culturing with 100 μg/ml rHuAFP. Simultaneously, we investigated the effects of rHuAFP on MHC class I expressing cells within the adult BM. This was performed employing fluorescein-conjugated anti-H-2K^(k) antibodies. As illustrated in FIG. 12A, only a minority of cells in normal BM exhibit a high expression level of MHC molecules. When BM cells were cultured in the presence of rHuAFP, there is a distinct pattern of staining intensity. AFP increased the proportion of I-A^(k) expressing cells to 40% versus 12% in control cultures of media alone or containing equivalent amounts of either mouse or human albumin. Cells defined as H-2K^(k, high) represented approximately 80% of the total BM analyzed in cultures containing rHuAFP, illustrating a 15 fold increase over control cultures with mouse and human albumin additions or no protein additions.

The Effects of AFP on BM Cell Cultures Cannot be Reproduced with Human or Mouse Albumin.

AFP share many physio-chemical properties with albumin, such as the overall structures, including the three-domain structure, and comparable binding properties. Therefore we determined whether the effects in BM cells observed for AFP could also be ascribed to mouse or human albumin. For this purpose BM cells from CBA/J mice were cultured in the presence of 100 μg/ml of rHuAFP, human albumin, or mouse albumin. As demonstrated in FIG. 12B neither human or mouse albumin shared the properties of AFP considering increase in MHC I or II intensity or enhanced frequencies of DN T cells and IgM positive B lineage cells. Instead, human and mouse albumin cultures were comparable to the medium control in these experiments.

Experimental

Materials and Methods

Mice. C.B-17 (H-2^(d)) and CBA/J (H-2^(k)) mouse strains were obtained from Bomholtsgaard, Denmark and wee then bred and maintained in our own animal facilities.

Preparation of hone marrow cells. Femurs and tibias were removed aseptically from mice and flushed with PBS using a syringe. Single cell suspensions were then washed three times in PBS. Cell viability was determined by the trypan blue dye exclusion test.

Membrane labeling of bone marrow cells with PKH467-Gl. Bone marrow cells were labeled using the PKH67 Green Fluorescent Cell Linker Kit (PKH67-GL, Sigma Biosciences, St. Louis, Mo., USA). Briefly, cells were diluted in Diluent C (2×10⁷ cells/ml) and then mixed with an equal volume of 2×10⁻⁶ M PKH67 dye in Diluent C to a final concentration of 10⁻⁶ M dye and 10⁷ cells/ml. After 2 minutes incubation at 25° C. the reaction was stopped by adding an equal volume of complete f-DMEM medium containing 10% FCS. Cells were washed and analyzed on a FACScan® flow cytometer (Becton Dickinson, San Jose, Calif.) to determine labeling intensity.

In Vitro Cultures and Cell Proliferation. BM cells were cultured in 37° C. in a humidified atmosphere of 7.5% CO₂ in an incubator (Biocenter 2001, Salvis AG, Reussbuhl, Switzerland) in flat-bottomed 24 well plates (A/S Nunc, Roskilde, Denmark) or round-bottomed 96 well plates (Corning Costar, Acton, Mass., USA) in f-DMEM medium supplemented with 2 mM L-glutamine, 5×10⁻⁵ M 2-mercaptoethanol, and 10 μg/ml gentamicin. The cultures were complemented with recombinant IL-3 (Karasuyama & Melchers, Eur. J. Immunol. 18:97-104, 1998; kindly provided by Prof Jan Andersson, Basel Institute for Immunology, Switzerland), crude supernatant from the IL-7 producing hybridoma JM-IL-7 (kindly provided by Dr. Jan Andersson), recombinant human alpha-fetoprotein (Boismenu, et al. Adv. Exp. Med. Biol. 383:255-269, 1995), human albumin, or mouse albumin and supplemented with 5 μg/ml transferrin, 1% fetal calf serum (FCS), or 0.5% autologous normal mouse serum (NMS). Cells from 24-well plates were harvested for flow cytometry analysis and determined for cell viability by the trypan blue dye exclusion test. Cell proliferation was determined by incubating triplicate cultures in round-bottomed 96 well plates with 1 μCi/culture of ³H-thymidine (Amersham International plc, Amersham, UK; spec. act., 925 Gbq/mmol) for 4 h prior to harvest onto glassfiber filters in a multiple cell harvester (1295-004 Betaplate® Pharmacia LKB, Uppsala, Sweden). Radioactivity on dried filters was measured by scintillation counting in a beta counter (1205 Betaplate®, Pharmacia LKB, Uppsala, Sweden).

Flow cytometry analysis. If not otherwise stated, the mAbs were obtained from PharMingen, San Diego, Calif. All steps were carried out at 4° C. Cells (10⁵ to 10⁶ per sample) were pre-incubated for 30 minutes with 50 μl crude supernatant from 2.4 G2 hybridomas, washed once in 250 μl PBS and then stained for 30 minutes with pretitered concentrations of the following mABs (obtained from Pharmigen) in 50 μl of PBS: FITC-labeled anti-H-2K^(d) (SF1-1.1), biotinylated anti-I-A^(d) (AMS-32.1), FITC-labeled anti-H-2K^(k) (AF2-12.1), and biotinylated anti-I-A^(k) (11-5.2). The cells were then washed once in 250% PBS and cells stained with biotinylated mAb were incubated for 25 min were streptavidin-PE (Becton Dickinson, San Jose, Calif.) followed by three washes with 250 μl of PBS. The samples were diluted to a final volume of 0.5 ml in PBS containing 1 μg/ml of propidium iodide and analyzed on a FACScan® flow cytometer (Becton Dickinson, San Jose, Calif.). An amount of 5-20×10³ cells were collected per sample using a FSC vs. SSC live gate to ignore erthrocytes and an FL3 vs. FL2 live gate to exclude dead propidium iodide stained cells.

Treatment of BM cells with albumin. Bone marrow cells (2×10⁶/ml) from CBA/J mice were cultured in 2 ml of f-DMEM medium containing 1% FCS in the presence or absence of rHuAFP, human albumin (HuAlb), or mouse albumin (MoAlb). At 4 days of culture, cells were harvested, stained with anti-H-2K^(k), and analyzed in FACS. FIG. 12B shows percent cells that were H-2K^(k,high) in medium without added AFP or supplemented with either rHuAFP, HuAlb, or MoAlb. FIG. 12B shows percent cells that were 1-A^(k+) in medium without added AFP or supplemented with rHuAFP, HuAlb, or MoAlb.

Bone Marrow Reconstitution in the Presence of AFP In Vitro and In Vivo

Enhanced BM Cell Recovery in the Presence of rHuAFP.

The impact of AFP to enhance BM cell reconstitution following sublethal gamma irradiation was analyzed by irradiating BM cells from C.B-17 mice with a dose of 600 rad. Thereafter, irradiated and non-irradiated cells were cultured in the absence or presence of IL-7 or rHuAFP. After 3 days of culture cells were harvested and cell densities were determined by the trypan blue dye exclusion test. Consistent with the data presented in FIG. 13 the highest cell density for non-irradiated cells was observed in the IL-7 cultures (FIG. 14A). BM cells from C.B-17 mice were irradiated with 600 rad. Thereafter, the irradiated and non-irradiated cells were cultured in the absence or presence of IL-7 or rHuAFP. After 3 days of culture, cells were harvested and cell densities were determined by the trypan blue day exclusion test. Conversely, following irradiation there was a significant enhancement in cell recovery among cells cultured in the presence of 100 μg/ml of rHuAFP (FIG. 14B).

All publications, manufacturer's instructions, patents, and patent applications mentioned in this specification are herein incorporated by reference to the same extent as if each individual publication or patent application was specifically and individually indicated to be incorporated by reference. 

1. A method of treating autoimmune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) in a mammal in need thereof, said method comprising administering to said mammal recombinant human alpha-fetoprotein or a biologically-active fragment thereof. 2-12. (canceled)
 13. The method of claim 1, wherein said recombinant human alpha-fetoprotein or fragment thereof is glycosylated.
 14. The method of claim 1, wherein said recombinant human alpha-fetoprotein or fragment thereof is unglycosylated.
 15. The method of claim 1, wherein said biologically-active fragment is selected from Domain I, Domain II, Domain III, Domain I+II, Domain II+III, or Fragment I.
 16. The method of claim 1, wherein said mammal is a human.
 17. The method of claim 1, wherein said method comprises administering a therapeutically effective amount of said recombinant human alpha-fetoprotein or biologically-active fragment thereof. 